Health News

In addition to being high in antioxidants, watermelon is also great at
removing toxins and ammonia from the body. There is also rising
evidence that it is able to help relax blood vessels and improve
circulation, having the same basic effect as Viagra, without the side
effects of drugs (but, sorry guys-it's probably not organ-specific!)
Still, this is one juicy fruit to keep eating all summer long and on a
very basic level-a good way to replenish lost fluid on hot days.

Here's a quote from the article in Science Daily:

"The citrulline-arginine relationship [in watermelon] helps heart health, the immune
system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from
obesity and type 2 diabetes"

Now there may be a real medical reason to indulge in all of your (dark) chocolate fantasies while pregnant. New research shows that eating dark chocolate can possibly help prevent preeclampsia during pregnancy due to a natural occuring chemical called theobromine which is known for reducing and treating high blood pressure and heart disease. To make sure you are eating the right kind, skip the milk chocolate, and go for a dark chocolate with at least 60% cacao. But don''t go crazy-since chocolate does also contain caffeine, eating a whole bar is not something I would recommend, especially during the 1st trimester.

Doctors are being told to hold back on administering antibiotics as the rise of super-bugs which are becoming more and more resistant to drugs are becoming increasingly common-and scary! Could an old home remedy-HONEY- be the answer to many medical issues?

While many people with high cholesterol turn to medications hoping to lower their LDL cholesterol, more and more evidence is coming to show that these medications are not always so useful, and in the case of the newer drug, Zetia, the makers are now saying that the drug has no medical benefits. No trials have shown that these drugs can reduce stroke or heart attacks. Read more about the article here:

My Take:While many people want a "quick fix" to their cholesterol problems, in most cases, lowering cholesterol also means changing your diet, getting a grip on stress, and avoiding known LDL raising fats such as partially hydrogenated oils found in highly processed convenience and pre-packaged foods.

MONDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Children and adolescents are being
bombarded by so many ads that medical experts now fear for their health.

Some
40,000 ads a year from television alone may be boosting obesity, poor
nutrition and cigarette and alcohol use among U.S. youth, according to
a revised statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The statement, which appears in the December issue of Pediatrics, calls for more media education to counter some of advertising's negative effects.

"We're
pleading with pediatricians and parents to become aware that
consumeristic tendencies are being fed right from birth," said Dr.
Donald Shifrin, chairman of the AAP Committee on Communications, which
issued the statement, and a pediatrician in private practice in
Seattle. "We have to understand that youngsters under a certain age
cannot differentiate between a commercial and a program. To them, it's
real. There should be some effort on the part of parents to point out
that this is a commercial."